About Koundinya Wildlife Sanctuary

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About Koundinya Wildlife Sanctuary:

It is located in Palamner – Kuppam forest ranges of Chittoor district of Andhra Pradesh.
It is the only sanctuary in the whole state housing Asian elephants.
This Sanctuary comes under Project elephant – a Country wide Elephant Conservation Project taken up by Government of India.
River Kaigal and River Kaundinya flow through this sanctuary and is characterized by high hills, deep valleys.
Flora:
- Forest type: Southern tropical dry deciduous forest, with patches of thorn, scrub and grassy plains.
- Plants like Albizzia amara, Ficus glomerata, Zizyphus xylocarpus, Gymnosporia Montana, etc; make this a green panoramic place with a breathtaking floral diversity.
Fauna:
- Insects like Painted grasshopper, Plain tiger butterfly, Common grass yellow butterfly etc.
- Reptiles like Common cobra, Rat snake, Indian rock python, Forest calotes, Skinks, etc.
- Birds like Partidges, quails, storks, Cotton teal, etc; make this Sanctuary their domicile.
- Mammals like Indian Elephant, Panther, Sloth bear, Wild boar, Chowsingha, Nilgai, Hyena, Jackal, etc.

Q1) Do Asian elephants live in India?

More than 50% are in India, where their range is largest. Populations live in just a few pockets of land in Sri Lanka. In Sumatra, elephants have lost 70% of their native habitat. Asian elephants live in tight-knit groups of about six or seven related females that work together to raise their young.

Source: Rough estimates put the number of elephants at around 60 in Railway Kodur, Rajampeta, Sanipaya, and Balapalle ranges.